New Thai Government Enforces $9 Entry Fee for Tourists Arriving by Air

1 hour ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Irrelevant money that will not be noticed. Don't care.

Come on, have a heart, don't take away the fuel needed for the full-time anti Thailand brigade to have their daily moan(s) as that is what they look forward to, why they live here in the fist place they makes me laugh when that question pops into my head.

5 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

I know what you mean, I have been here for four years on a temporary year by year visa extension (retired) but I know I am not a local and never will be, some long term farangs not to realise they have the same status as a tourist, they do not live here, they are still visiting.

My extensions are every 2 years, and my employer is currently in the process of moving me over to an LTR visa.

I've been here full-time since 2006, and I don't feel like a tourist, act like one, nor am I treated like one.

4 hours ago, VBF said:

In any event it's yet another tax on air travellers but I doubt 300 Baht will deter many people good or bad.

People should be thankful it is a fixed fee, many countries put it on hotel bookings per person/per night for those with a foreign passport.

Coming to a country near you soon.

Scotland is introducing a nationwide "visitor levy" (tourist tax), starting with Edinburgh on July 24, 2026. It is a 5% added charge on paid overnight accommodation (hotels, Airbnbs, B&Bs), capped at the first five nights. Other cities like Glasgow (5%) and Aberdeen (7%) plan to introduce similar levies in 2027 to fund local services.

"Wales is introducing a mandatory "visitor levy" (tourist tax) expected to take effect in April 2027. It will add approximately £1.30 per person per night to most accommodation types, or 75p for campsites and hostels. Local councils can opt-in to apply the fee, intended to fund local tourism, infrastructure, and community amenities."

4 hours ago, LALes said:

What about residents on Retirement visas? We're not tourists. Or, is this just another across the board falang tax?

Theoretically, we would be exempt as we are not tourists. Whether that plays out to be the case, who knows 🤷‍♂️

Is this fake news. Although amount small it would be foolish to impose further restrictions on tourism especially when other nearby countries are extending visa exemption whist Thailand proposes a reduction in respect 5% of tourists who stay up to 60 days mostly snow birds hardly a risk to securit especially having been vetted by TDAC before arriving in Thailand

5 hours ago, pookett said:

delay inducing booth

And only can pay in thai baht. Then place the booth before immigration so you can't change currency....what could possibly go wrong?

The Thai Tourism Authority is Certainly Trying to Put People Off Going Changing Rules Pretty Much Every Day to Change it Back The Next , You Just Don’t Know Where You Stand !!!

1 hour ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

I know what you mean, I have been here for four years on a temporary year by year visa extension (retired) but I know I am not a local and never will be, some long term farangs not to realise they have the same status as a tourist, they do not live here, they are still visiting.

I knew the situation before deciding to come but I am under no illusion that my status is permanent, that is why I keep £20k in reserve in case we have to do an immediate runner out of Thailand for whatever future even might occur.

I've been here 25 years,worked and payed tax for 18 of those, married, had kids but still on a yearly visa with 90 day check in, was close to applying for citizenship but the company closed down. So basically yeah, we are all temporary tourists and your extension can be denied at anytime, and lets face it, if you live here what is an extra 300 baht once in a blue moon

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

My extensions are every 2 years, and my employer is currently in the process of moving me over to an LTR visa.

I've been here full-time since 2006, and I don't feel like a tourist, act like one, nor am I treated like one.

Only by the government 👍

6 hours ago, pest said:

Departure would be better it was 500 before

Actually I disagree. I lived in Ethiopia for a year teaching. I didn't dn't realize until I went to leave the country that they had a departure fee (I can't remember how much) that they wanted paid in US dollars. At the time it was both unexpected and more money than I had on me. My landlord had at the last minute said I owed him some large back electricity bill (which despite being made up had to pay as he worked for the government), so I was short on cash. I was basically hostage and couldn't leave the country till I came up with the departure fee. I would much rather know and pay a fee up front.

13 hours ago, 1tooth said:

Good, hopefully it will deter the riff raff from visiting Thailand.

You are the riff or the raff?

2 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

Phuket is already safe, 13 million holiday makers come every year, there are a few incidents due to the vast number of tourists, many self inflicted like the total drunk last week who had his money taken at an ATM at an ungodly hour of the night, but the odds of that happening are probably less than the chances of it happening in their own countries.

I have lived here for four years full time and have visited for 30 years on long holidays, never a problem.

I refer to the proverb, "One swallow does not make a summer. "

But it turns a ten into an eleven.

38 minutes ago, Issan girl said:

Actually I disagree. I lived in Ethiopia for a year teaching. I didn't dn't realize until I went to leave the country that they had a departure fee (I can't remember how much) that they wanted paid in US dollars. At the time it was both unexpected and more money than I had on me. My landlord had at the last minute said I owed him some large back electricity bill (which despite being made up had to pay as he worked for the government), so I was short on cash. I was basically hostage and couldn't leave the country till I came up with the departure fee. I would much rather know and pay a fee up front.

I had a similar experience in Hong Kong in the 1980's. Departure tax caught me by surprise. I've often wondered what would have happened if I didn't have HK currency on me.

I can live with the entry fees,

What I'm not happy about is Exit Fees

"I have to Pay Again just so I can Leave"?

If Thai officialdom had half a brain they would just add on the extra to the airlines' ticket cost and not announce it.

Noone would notice.

14 hours ago, 1tooth said:

Good, hopefully it will deter the riff raff from visiting Thailand.

But you’re already here aren’t you?

I disagree with the people on here who think 300 baht is not a big deal.

It used to be a night out for me and my girlfriend before she left me.

4 hours ago, Dialemco said:

Is this fake news. Although amount small it would be foolish to impose further restrictions on tourism especially when other nearby countries are extending visa exemption whist Thailand proposes a reduction in respect 5% of tourists who stay up to 60 days mostly snow birds hardly a risk to securit especially having been vetted by TDAC before arriving in Thailand

Personally I wouldn’t call tdlc a vetting system. It records the information but I’m not aware of any verification of the data. I guess maybe your name and dob as that’s in your passport

Doesn't anyone remember this has been done before, which is now incorporated in the airfare!!

300 baht is nothing considering that now I will be fully insured and treated at the best hospitals such as boomboomgrad international

43 minutes ago, 1tooth said:

Yeah, the ***s will hate it. O vey!!!

Scots?

Jews can afford it. You probably cant.

The non-existent tourists who are coming to Thailand in planes without jet-fuel will be charged 300 THB when they land.

Got it!

11 hours ago, Jimbolkb said:

ok, ask the 300 baht

AND STOP THE DUAL PRICING in national parks and other places

where foreigners pay up 10x MORE than thais

only if they are stupid, or really really desperate to see a waterfall

5 hours ago, Keeenok Powell said:

I disagree with the people on here who think 300 baht is not a big deal.

It used to be a night out for me and my girlfriend before she left me.

serves you right for spoiling her

12 hours ago, lavender19 said:

Not bothered about the 300 Baht but just wondering whether the money is going to be spent on just causes or just pocketed?

Most of it will almost certainly be spent on high class prostitutes and possibly drugs, what ever remains will probably just be wasted

so airlines have to verify citizenship and ticket price is different for Thai passport holders? I'm sure airlines love adding another complexity to ticket prices.

Yes, airlines are generally required to collect various airport taxes, facility fees, and immigration fees on behalf of governments and airport authorities as part of the ticket purchase. These charges—such as landing fees, security fees, and passenger service charges—vary by country and airport, and are usually bundled into the final ticket price, though some are paid separately upon departure

19 hours ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

I wonder how TAT will spin this???

Or spend this!!!!!

How much did they wave in visa fees for Indians and other countries ?

How can it enforce something that has yet to be approved? Poor journalism

Nothing really, but eventually there will be a straw that breaks the camel's back.